St. Rays Reps Bronx; Beats Lincoln

BROOKLYN, NY - Lincoln is a real tough place to play. There have been some big battles over the years and a lot of teams have come into that gym and not have a good experience. St. Raymond, a team that traveled all the way from The Bronx to get to Coney Island, was able to come to Lincoln and have a great experience and a fun trip back to the Bronx.

St. Raymond came from being behind early in the game to control the fourth quarter and not let Lincoln back into the game. Shane Rector, a 6-2 junior point guard, led the team in scoring with 22 points. He was the only player in double figures for St. Raymond.

"It was a big win for us", head coach Oliver Antigua said after the game. "I think we can use this and move forward and give us some confidence for our playoffs."

Lincoln led 25-18 after a low scoring first half, but it was St. Ray's who came out on fire. Rector finished at the basket and followed that with two free throws. Before you knew it the score was 27-23 and St. Ray's was starting to take over. After a follow up shot and a three pointer from Lincoln, Rector was able to pick up a turnover and finish with a dunk to start an 8-0 run that got his team the lead. Two three pointers, the first from the left elbow and the second from the right wing, Lawrence Graves made his only two baskets of the game.

That was huge because it put St. Raymond ahead 31-30 and they were officially back in the contest. The half ended when Daniel Dingle scored on a drive down the lane. That field goal made it 39-38 in favor of St. Raymond.

Still, St. Raymond answered a basket and free throw by Lincoln's Travis Charles when sophomore guard Shawn Jones scored, hit a free throw and then scored again on the next possession. The baseline jumper from Jones gave St. Ray's a 6 point lead.

The damage had been done. Lincoln could never get back into the game after that. The Railsplitters started off strangely also. They didn't start three starters at the beginning, one to injury and the other two were dressed but weren't in the game at the beginning. Isaiah Whitehead hurt his ankle two weeks ago and didn't play.

Charles led Lincoln with 14 points, while Ethan Telfair was the only other Lincoln player in double figures with 12.